Sparring is a tool to help you get to know yourself better. When you put on the headgear and gloves, put your mouthguard in and step inside the ring, you touch gloves with someone else who is also willing to expose themselves in front of others. It is a powerful experience to give and receive punches. It’s a powerful experience to agree to be vulnerable with others watching. You learn all about your defensiveness, how you do or don’t bully, where you are scared, where you are confident and how well you can relax under pressure. All these lessons are invaluable for daily life. Boxers have always known this and have always had a hard time relaying their knowledge to the general public what it’s like in the ring with someone else.

If you spar fully, willing to learn about yourself and take on the ways you blame others for your experience, much freedom will come to you. You will find how the ring translates to your business and personal life. You can learn how to be more curious and excited about discovering yourself and all the while getting one hell of a workout.

If you are nervous to try sparring, good! That is the whole point. You will never learn anything new without discomfort.